Pirate Bay co-founder dies in Slovenia plane crash

Published March 12, 2025
Pirate Bay co-founder Carl Lundstrom. — Facebook
Pirate Bay co-founder Carl Lundstrom. — Facebook

Swedish businessman Carl Lundstroem, co-founder of illegal file-sharing site The Pirate Bay, has died in an aeroplane crash in Slovenia, according to the far-right party he was linked to.

Slovenian police confirmed on Wednesday to AFP that they found a body — “likely of the pilot, a Swedish citizen” — but declined to identify him pending forensic research.

The plane crashed into a wooden cabin in the Velika Planina area of northern Slovenia on Monday, but bad weather prevented rescuers from recovering the body until Tuesday.

Swedish far-right party Alternative for Sweden said in a post that Lundstroem had died in the accident.

“Lundstroem, a legend and veteran of Swedish nationalism, died in a plane crash on Monday,” the post said.

Lundstroem, 64, had taken off with his Mooney M20 aeroplane from Croatia’s capital Zagreb heading for Zurich in Switzerland, it added.

Lundstroem was the grandson of the founder of the world’s largest crispbread producer Wasabroed.

Founded in 2003, The Pirate Bay allows users to dodge copyright fees and share music, film and other files through peer-to-peer links offered on the site.

Sweden has repeatedly tried to put an end to The Pirate Bay’s activities. Swedish courts have already handed down prison sentences and heavy fines to Lundstroem and other founders.

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